Electrolytic disintegration preventing means



1932- E. J. REMSCHEID ,8 4

ELECTROLYTIC DISINTEGRATION PREVENTING MEANS Filed Sept. 23, 1929 IIIIIIl/l/IIIII/l/IIIlI/l/Ill I Inventor Emil J. Remscherdfi Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE man. .1. or senmimanr, mzw Yonx, moron. m

comm, a conrona'non or m Yomro mum-arc mcraonnrc DIBINTEGBATION re ms Application filed September as, was. sum Io. mm.

This invention relates to a novel means for reventin disintegriitionby electrolysis of 111d carr 'lng connections in any apparatus where t ere is a difference of potential between the connection and the part connected thereto. The part connected to the fluid carrying connection may be ground, or another part of the same or another machine.

Tank type mercury arc rectifiers are usuvally fluid cooled. the fluid ordinarily employed for the purpose being water. The cooling fluid is usually supplied to the apparatus through a long rubber hose connected to a source of supply and to an ordinary steel pipe nipfple attached to the water jacket of the rect1 er.- The rubber hose is included for insulation owing to the fact that the rectifier apparatus has a voltage higher'than ground. Because of this difference in potential electrolvtic currents are present in the hose. Due to t ese electrolytic currents disintegration takes place at the hose connection to the metal nipple resulting in the wearing away and final disintegration and breakage of the nipple connection to the hose.

I have discovered a means for entirely preventing this disintegrating action.

For a better understanding of my invention reference is had to the accompanyin s ecification and drawings forming part t llS application. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation of a fluid cooled tank type mercury arc rectifier embodying the principles of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section showing more in detail the invention.

For convenience of illustration I have shown mv invention as applied to a known chamber within the recti- I fier and leaves at the exit connection whence it the cool' chamber surrounding the exhaust chamber 1n the tank 17. The interior construction of the rectifier is not shown as it is unnecessary to an understanding of the present invention. The cooling fluid finally leaves the rectifier at the overflow 18 which is connected by means of a nipple and rubber hose to the usual drain in the ground.

As ointed out above, it has been found that w en metal nipples are used for the fluid carrying connections, the connecting points being at different potentials, electrolytic currents are set up, which currents disintegrate the nipple connection. I have discovered that the use of a composite nipple constructed so that it presents an outer tube or shell of metal and an inner tube ofcarbon prevents the disintegratingaction above referred to. Referring particularly to Fig. 2 where there is shown in detail an embodiment of my invention,.it will be seen that the usual metal pipe nipple-14 is modified by the insertion of a carbon tube 19 within the outer metal tube.

The carbon tube 19 is firmly fixed or attached to the metallic tube within the latter and presents its surface to the fluid as it enters the nipple. The carbon tube projects out of the metallic tube at one end thereof and is here presented for connection to the rubber hose which carries the cooling fluid. The other end of the composite nip le is screw threaded in the usual way in or er to adapt it to be received'in'the rectifier. The carbon tube 19 is run back into the metal tube for the major portion of the length of the latter. The rubber hose 13 fits over the nipple as is obvious from the drawing.

The composite metal and carbon nipple of my invention has been found to prevent disintegration of the connection where there is a difierence of potential'present. The carbon tube allows the electrolytic currents to pass but will not itself disintegrate and prethrough rubber hose 16 to vents disintegration of the entireconnection. Since electrolysis usually takes place malnly at the tip of the connection to the hose, the

carbon tube is presented for connection thereto, as shown at 20. The carbon tube is, however, run back into the metal tube to take care of any stray currents which may pass back along the tube. 3

While I have shown a composite mpple composed of an outer tube of metal and an inner tube of carbon, my invention includes also the use of a carbon tube alone as the connection. I prefer, however, to uses. composite nipple of the character described because of the strength and support given to the carbon tube by the metal tube surround- -in it. i l n the case of a mercury arc rectifier of the type shown,

composite nipple connections of the type set forth are used atthe place of entrance of the cooling fluid to the rectifier and at the overflow, that is, at points 14 and 18 respectively, since it is at these points that there is a difference of potential present.

What I claim as new and desire to secure.

by Letters Patent of the United States. is:

1. In combination, an electrical device a hose forcirculating acooling fluid in sa d device, and a carbon tube connected to sand hose and to saiddevice.

2. In combination, an electrical device and means for circulating cooling fluid in said device, said means and said device having a difference of potential. said meansmcludmg a non-metallic electrically conducting tube secured to said device.

3. In combination, an electrical apparatus comprising cooling fluidcarryingconnections,

said connections comprising fluid carrying means and means connecting said fluid carrying means to said apparatus,said fluid carrying means and said apparatus having a dlfference of potential, and means forming part of said connecting means to prevent disintegration thereof due to electrolytic currents set up in said fluid carrying means. v

\ 4. In combination, an electrical apparatus comprising cooling fluid carrying connections. said connections comprising fluid carrying means and means connecting said fluid carrying means to said apparatus, said fluid carrying means and said apparatus having a difference of potential, and a carbon tube forming part of said connecting means to prevent disintegration thereof due to electrolytic currents set up in said fluid carrying means.

5. In combination, an electrical apparatus provided with a cooling fluid carrying connection, said connection comprising fluid carrying means and means connecting said fluid carrying means to said apparatus, said fluid carrying means being at adifferent potential from the apparatus, and means for preventing disintegration of said connecting means comprising means therewithin capable of conducting electricity but withstanding disintegration due to electrolytic currents.

6. In combination, a mercury arc rectifier provided withcooling fluid carrying connectionscomprisingacoolingfluidsupplying con duit and means connecting said cooling'fluid supplying conduit to said rectifier, said conduit andsaid rectifier having. a difference of potential whereby electrolytic currents are present, said connecting means being formed of an outer metal tube and an inner carbon tube. said carbon tube being attached to said metal tube and projecting from one end thereof, said projecting end being adapted to receive the cooling fluid supplying conduit.

7. In an electrical apparatus having fluidcarrying connections. said connections comprising fluid carrying means and means connecting said fluid carrying means to said apparatus. said fluid carrying means and said apparatus having'a difference of potential. nonmetallic electrically conducting means forming part of said connecting meansto prevent disintegration thereof due to electrolytic currents set up insaid fluid carrying means.

8. A composite nipple connection for an electrical device comprising. a metal tube one end of which is adapted to be received in said device and a carbon tube within said metal tube. said carbon tube being of a length less than the length of the metal tube but project ing beyond the other end of said metal tube.

9. A composite nipple for use as a connecting means in an electrical apparatus wherein the connecting means is employed in conjunction with a fluid carrying conduit and wherein said fluid carrying conduit is at a different potcntial from the apparatus'to which it is connected thereby having electrolytic currents therein. said composite nipple comprising an outer metal tube and an inner non-metallic electrically conducting tube secured to said metal tube and projecting therefrom and adapted to receive the fluid carrying conduit.

10. A composite nipple for use as a connecting means in an electrical apparatus wherein the connecting means is employed in conjunction with a fluid carrying conduit and wherein said fluid carrying conduit is at a different potential from the apparatus to which it is connected thereby having electrolytic currents therein. said composite nipple comprising an outer metal tube and an inner carbon tube secured to said metal tube and projecting therefrom and adapted to receive the fluid carrying conduit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of. September. 1929.

4' EMIL J. REMSOHEID. 

